Electric control device,especially for the remote control of switches,signals,and the like,for toy and model railroad installations

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a switch arrangement especially for use with model railway systems and the like in which the switch comprises a housing consisting of a base member and a member resting thereon consisting of a top plate and a depending peripheral portion. A pair of switch keys are mounted in the top plate and elements of normally open switches are mounted on the base plate for actuation by the aforementioned keys. The switch elements have connected and in parallel therewith, lamp bulbs with the lamp bulb pertaining to the switch elements operated by one key being located under the other key. The elements of the switches are in the form of metal strips secured to the base member by tabs which extend through slots in the base member and which are bent over on the bottom of the base member.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Max Ernst 85 Lohengrinstr. l4, Nuremburg, Germany [21] Appl. No. 838,160 [22] Filed July 1, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 32] Priority July 4, 1968 [33] Germany [31] P1,703,742

[54] ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE REMOTE CONTROL OF SWITCHES, SIGNALS, AND THE LIKE, FOR TOY AND MODEL Primary ExaminerH. 0. Jones Attorney- Walter Becker 200/167(A) ZOO/167(A) ABSTRACT: The invention relates to a switch arrangement especially for use with model railway systems and the like in which the switch comprises a housing consisting of a base member and a member resting thereon consisting of a top plate and a depending peripheral portion. A pair of switch keys are mounted in the top plate and elements of normally open switches are mounted on the base plate for actuation by the aforementioned keys. The switch elements have connected and in parallel therewith, lamp bulbs with the lamp bulb pertaining to the switch elements operated by one key being located under the other key. The elements of the switches are in the form of metal strips secured to the base member by tabs which extend through slots in the base member and which are bent over on the bottom of the base member.

ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE, ESPECIALLY FOR Til-IE REMOTE CONTROL OF SWITCHES, SIGNALS, AND THE LIKE, FOR TOY AND MODEL RAILROAD INSTALLATIONS The present invention relates to an electric control device, especially for the remote control of switches, signals, and the like, for toy and model railroad installations. In US. Pat. application Ser. No. 719,345 filed Apr. 8, 1968 and assigned to applicant, there has been described an electric adjusting device for remote control of switches, signals, or the like, for toy and model railroad installations, which is provided with an adjusting member operable by two coils and an iron core displaceable in said coils and which has a manually operable switch for remote control. With this device a series resistor which is arranged in series with both coils is so dimensioned that when applying the operating voltage to the coils or to the resistor no adjusting movement of the adjusting member occurs. The manual switch is provided with contacts for short circuiting said series resistors while the adjusting device has a reversible switch the movable contact member of which is so coupled with play to the adjusting member of the adjusting device that near the end of the adjusting movement of the coil carrying out this movement is disconnected from the source of voltage, whereas the coil not employed for the reversing switch operation and its series resistor are connected to the source of voltage, the series resistors being employed for indicating the position of the adjusting member.

The above mentioned copending application is characterized primarily in that the series resistors for the coils consist of incandescent lamps and are so arranged on a track control panel that the respective illuminated lamp indicates the adjusted switch or signal position. According to the above mentioned copending application, it is suggested for the remote control of switches to provide a manually operable switch in which the switch housing has a circular sector or wedgeshaped contour and is provided with two narrow and long keys which are located at an angle corresponding to the branching of the switch and are made of transparent material. When the keys are actuated, the adjusting device is reversed.

The incandescent lamps employed for indicating the respective position of the adjusting member are in the manual switch like wise arranged at an angle with regard to each other below the keys and within resilient vats of a contact plate. Connected to the intermediate contacts of the incandescent lamp are resilient tongues of fixed contacts which through the intervention of conductors crossing each other in the lower portion of the manually operable switch lead to the fixed contact of the other switch side. Between the keys and these fixed contacts there are provided movable contacts which are connected to the contact plate.

When actuating one of the two keys, therefore, always that incandescent lamp is short circuited which is located below the other key, whereupon the adjusting device is reversed and toward the end of this reversing operation, the respective incandescent lamp located below the previously actuated key will be placed under voltage with the coil arranged in series thereto. By a suitable connection of the adjusting member with the switch it can be realized that the respective depressed and subsequently illuminated key will also indicate the just-adjusted switch or signal position.

The adjusting device described in the above mentioned copending application Ser. No. 719,345 which comprises an electromagnetic reversing device with adjusting member and a key reversing switch pertaining thereto will thus made it possible by relatively simple means and without additional conductors between the reversing device and the manual switch to indicate on the manual switch the effected adjustment.

It is an object of the present invention to simplify and improve the manual switch described in the above mentioned application Ser. No. 719,345 and so to design the manual switch that it can be used also for other purposes and, preferably, for the actuation of a cross switch.

This object and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a total view of a manually operable switch adapted to be used in connection with a reversing device according to US. Pat. application Ser. No. 719,345 mentioned above.

FIG. 2 represents a cross section through one of the two keys of the manual switch.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the lower portion of the manual switch according to FIG. 1 with the upper portion removed.

FIG. 4 is a view of the lower portion of the manual switch according to the invention as seen from below.

FIG. 5 represents a section taken along the line V-V of FIG. 3 through the lower portion of the manual switch.

FIG. 6 represents a section through the entire manual switch, said section being taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates a reversing device according to the above mentioned application Ser. No. 719,345 with a manual switch according to the invention.

The electric adjusting device according to the present in vention is characterized primarily in that the switch housing has a substantially rectangular contour with two flat partially transparent keys provided with symbols while below each key there is provided in the vicinity of the narrow edges of the lower portion of the manual switch a fixed contact above which a resilient tongue of the intermediate contact is located while each fixed contact by means of a resilient tongue engages an intermediate contact of the oppositely located incandescent lamp in a U-shaped extension.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the manual switch illustrated therein comprises an injection-molded switch housing of a substantially rectangular contour with an upper part 2 and a lower part 1. The housing lower part 1 is in the central portion of its lateral confining edges provided with upwardly extending guiding extensions 3 and 4 by means of which the housing upper part 2 can be plugged onto the lower part. The housing upper and lower parts are at their narrow sides slanted in a rooflike manner while both parts in the central portion thereof and at their ends are provided with two bores 5 extending in downward direction and intended for connecting the switch to a base, for instance, by means of two pins or screws. The upper housing part 2 comprises two rectangular cutouts arranged adjacent to each other. Two keys 6 which protrude somewhat from the top can be inserted from below into the rectangular cutouts. A collar 8 provided on each key prevents the latter from accidentally dropping out. Each key furthermore comprises in the vicinity of the narrow sides of the upper part a downwardly extending extension 9 through the intervention of which the key is adapted to act upon the pertaining resilient switch contact 20, 21.

The manual switch illustrated in the drawing is intended for the remote control of a cross switch. In conformity with this purpose of employment, the key 6 is provided with a crossshaped recess 10, whereas the key 7 is provided with two adjacent curved recesses 11. The keys likewise consist of injection molded material and expediently of transparent material. Inserted into the keys from below are plates 12 of yellow or red transparent synthetic material. These plates may be cemented to or pressed into the respective key. These plates 12 are provided with symbols which have an elevated profile 13 as shown in FIG. 2. These profiles 13 are located within the recesses 10 and 11. of the keys 6 and 7. By this design of the keys, the symbols will, when being illuminated from below, be very clearly visible.

The upper part of the housing part 1 has in the central portion thereof and extending diagonally a square-shaped extension 14 as seen in FIG. 5 onto which the central contact 15 has been plugged. This central contact 15 has its central portion at both sides provided with U-shaped resilient vats 16 adapted to receive the sockets 18 of the incandescent lamps, 17. The rear ends of these sockets 18 are equipped with small beads 19 by means of which the incandescent lamps are prevented from sliding in the vats toward the front. The central contact 15 is extended toward both sides to the vicinity of the housing end and at the ends is angled toward the center of the housing and parallel to the narrow sides of the housing whereby a Z-shape is obtainedfThe parallel angled off legs 20, 20' of the central contact form the movable and resilient contacts of the switch. These contacts are located below their downwardly extending elevations 9 of the keys 6 and 7 and above each fixed contact 21, 21' which are likewise located in the vicinity of the two housing ends on an upwardly extending extension 22 on the housing lower part 1. The fixed contacts 21, 21 are provided with elevations 23 arranged at a right angle to the fixed contacts, said elevations 23 having their ends so shaped as to form resilient contacts 24 which are bent at a right angle in upward direction and which engage the central contacts of the incandescent lamps 17, 17 located in the vats 16. The two incandescent lamps 17, 17' are so inserted in the vats 16 that they point in opposite direction and, more specifically, in such a way that the incandescent lamp 17 is below the key 7 associated with the switch contact 20, 21 operable by the key 6, whereas the incandescent lamp 17' is below the key 6 associated with the switch contact 21' operable by the key '7.

For purposes of connecting the central contact 15 equipped with the resilient contacts 20, 20 and for purposes of connecting the lateral fixed contacts 21, 21'; the said contacts are each provided with two ears 25, 25 (FIG. 4) which are passed through slots 26, 27 provided in the lower part of the housing and are bent over. On the bottom side of the housing lower part 1, in the vicinity of the cars 25', there are provided recesses 26 so that the ears 25 are located somewhat higher than the bottom surface of the lower part of the housing. The ears 25 are located in a common recess in which there are also located the conductors 28, 29 and 30 soldered to the ears. In the vicinity of the right-hand small side of the housing lower part 1 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 there is furthermore provided an oval opening 31 through which the feed lines 2830 lead together from the bottom side of the lower part of the housing to the upper side thereof and are through a small opening 32 in the housing upper part 2 passed out of the switch housing.

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates the switch of FIGS. 1 to 6 in connection with the reversing device described in the above mentioned copending application Ser. No. 719,345. The central contact 15 passes through a line 28 to a pole of the secondary winding 33 pertaining to a network transformer 33. The second pole of this secondary winding 33 is through a line 34 connected to a contact plate 35 of the reversing device. Electrically connected the contact plate 35 is a displaceable contact 36 the part 36' of which either engages the fixed contact 37 or the fixed contact 38. The contacts 37 and 38 are through lines 39 and 40 respectively connected to a pole of two coils 41 and 42. The other poles of the coils 41, 42 are electrically connected through lines 29, 30 with contacts 21, 23, 24 and 21 23', 24'. The armature 43 of soft iron which is displaceable and is located within the coils 41 and 42 has an adjusting member 44 which at the end of the adjusting movement is adapted through the abutments 45 and 46 to take along the displaceable contact plate 36 and effects the switch over of the contact 36 from the fixed contact 37 to the fixed contact 38 and vice versa.

It may be assumed that the contact 36 engages the fixed contact 37. This occurs when the coil 41 has adjusted the armature 43 toward the left and when the adjusting member 44 through the intervention of the abutment 45 has moved the contact plate 36 into electric communication with the fixed contact 37. As a result thereof, the coil 42 and the incandescent lamp 17 arranged in series therewith are under voltage. lf now the key 6 is depressed and thus the incandescent lamp 17 is through the contacts 20 and 21 short circuited, the full voltage is supplied to the coil 42 so that the latter attracts the armature 43 toward the right while, due to this movement, also the reversing of the switch or of another element to be actuated is effected. At the end of this adjusting movement,

through the intervention of the adjusting member 44 and the abutment 46, the contact 36 is brought into engagement with the fixed contact 38. It will be evident from the above that now the coil 41 and the incandescent lamp 117' in series therewith are under voltage whereby, as will be seen from FIG. 7, the incandescent lamp 17' associated with the contacts 20, 21 illuminates the key 6. The same process occurs when by pressing the key 7 and short circuiting the lamp 17' by the switch contacts 20', 21', the device is again reversed in which instance two toward the ehd of the adjusting movement, the incandescent lamp l7 illuminates the key 7 from below. The resistances of the incandescent lamps 17, 17 have to be selected of such a magnitude that the current passing through the incandescent lamps and coil will not be sufficient to start the movement of the armature 43 of the adjusting device.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means limited to the particular construction shown in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. in an electric control device, especially for model railways and the like: a switch housing comprising a base member and a cover part mounted on the base member, said cover part having a top panel parallel to said base member and depending peripheral portion extending from said top panel to said base member, said switch housing being oblong when viewed in plan and having a pair of keys 'in side-by-side relation mounted in respective apertures formed in said top panel, a said keys formed to pass light therethrough, fixed contact members on said base member near the ends thereof, a strip of resilient conductive material having end parts forming resilient contact members above said fixed contact members and beneath respective ones of said keys, each key upon depression thereof closing the pertaining resilient contact member on the fixed contact member therebeneath, an incandescent lamp beneath each key, the fixed contact member pertaining to each key having a resilient tongue thereon engaging the center terminal of the lamp pertaining to the other key, the center portion of said conductive strip having U- shaped lateral extensions thereon forming sockets in which said lamps are mounted and which engage the side terminals of said lamps, and wires leading into said switch housing for connection to said fixed contact members and to said conductive strip.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which each said key comprises a body of opaque material having aperture means therethrough of a respective configuration, each key having a recess in the bottom extending at least to the lateral limits of said aperture means, and a member of light transmitting material mounted in said recess.

3. A device according to claim 1, which said conductive strip extends diagonally across said base member and has the ends end parts forming said resilient contact members extending in the narrow direction of said switch housing near the ends of the switch housing, each key having means thereon for act actuating engagement with a respective one of said resilient contact members.

4. A device according to claim 3, in which said base member has an upwardly projecting extension in about the center thereof beneath of the center of said conductive strip, said U-shaped lateral extension on said conductive strip embracing opposite sides of said upwardly projecting extensions.

5. A device according to claim 4, in which said base member includes raised bosses near the ends which said fixed contact members rest upon and are supported thereby.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which said base member is slotted at opposite sides of said projection and at one end of each said boss, and said conductive strip and said fixed contact members have tabs tabs thereon extending through respective ones of said slots and bent over against said base member.

7. A device according to claim 6, in which said base member has recesses formed therein to accommodate said tabs.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which said base member includes groove means therein leading from near one end of the base member to at least some of said recesses for receiving wires connected to the said tabs in the recesses.

9. A device according to claim 8, in which said base member has an aperture therein near said one end thereof communicating with said groove means for the. passage of wires from the groove means into said switch housing, said cover part also having an aperture therein near the aperture in the base member for the passage of the wires from inside the switch housing to the outside thereof. 

1. In an electric control device, especially for model railways and the like: a switch housing comprising a base member and a cover part mounted on the base member, said cover part having a top panel parallel to said base member and depending peripheral portion extending from said top panel to said base member, said switch housing being oblong when viewed in plan and having a pair of keys in side-by-side relation mounted in respective apertures formed in said top panel, a said keys formed to pass light therethrough, fixed contact members on said base member near the ends thereof, a strip of resilient conductive material having end parts formIng resilient contact members above said fixed contact members and beneath respective ones of said keys, each key upon depression thereof closing the pertaining resilient contact member on the fixed contact member therebeneath, an incandescent lamp beneath each key, the fixed contact member pertaining to each key having a resilient tongue thereon engaging the center terminal of the lamp pertaining to the other key, the center portion of said conductive strip having U-shaped lateral extensions thereon forming sockets in which said lamps are mounted and which engage the side terminals of said lamps, and wires leading into said switch housing for connection to said fixed contact members and to said conductive strip.
 2. A device according to claim 1, in which each said key comprises a body of opaque material having aperture means therethrough of a respective configuration, each key having a recess in the bottom extending at least to the lateral limits of said aperture means, and a member of light transmitting material mounted in said recess.
 3. A device according to claim 1, which said conductive strip extends diagonally across said base member and has the ends end parts forming said resilient contact members extending in the narrow direction of said switch housing near the ends of the switch housing, each key having means thereon for act actuating engagement with a respective one of said resilient contact members.
 4. A device according to claim 3, in which said base member has an upwardly projecting extension in about the center thereof beneath of the center of said conductive strip, said U-shaped lateral extension on said conductive strip embracing opposite sides of said upwardly projecting extensions.
 5. A device according to claim 4, in which said base member includes raised bosses near the ends which said fixed contact members rest upon and are supported thereby.
 6. A device according to claim 5, in which said base member is slotted at opposite sides of said projection and at one end of each said boss, and said conductive strip and said fixed contact members have tabs tabs thereon extending through respective ones of said slots and bent over against said base member.
 7. A device according to claim 6, in which said base member has recesses formed therein to accommodate said tabs.
 8. A device according to claim 7, in which said base member includes groove means therein leading from near one end of the base member to at least some of said recesses for receiving wires connected to the said tabs in the recesses.
 9. A device according to claim 8, in which said base member has an aperture therein near said one end thereof communicating with said groove means for the passage of wires from the groove means into said switch housing, said cover part also having an aperture therein near the aperture in the base member for the passage of the wires from inside the switch housing to the outside thereof.
 10. A device according to claim 1, in which said switch housing, hear the narrow ends thereof, is provided with means for receiving securing elements to mount the switch housing on a support.
 11. A device according to claim 3, in which each key is noncircular and the means on each key for engagement with said respective resilient contact member is in the form of a fingerlike extension dependent from the key on the side thereof nearest the adjacent narrow side of the switch housing. 